Diabolist (PZO1139)

Some face damnation willingly. Seeking to control the awesome might of the infernal legions and twist the very powers of Hell to their whims, these blasphemous spellcasters jeopardize their immortal souls for mastery over devilkind. While those who already worship evil forces might come to control these profane powers and through their vile faiths, sinister arcanists too might learn the names, signs, and incantations to bind devils from heretical tomes and communion with the damned. Though some tread the path of the diabolist to enslave the forces of Hell and turn them towards goals other than corruption, only the most stalwart of diabolists can resist the temptations of the Pit. Regardless of whatever grim path leads spellcasters to seek power over the diabolical, their destination is nearly always the same– an eternity of damnation in the depths of Hell.

Hit Die: d6.

Requirements

To qualify to become a diabolist, a character must fulfill all of the following criteria.

Spells: Ability to cast at least two conjuration spells of two different spell levels.

Special: Must worship an archdevil, infernal duke, or malebranche; must have conjured a devil using lesser planar ally or lesser planar binding (or a similar spell) to successfully command the devil to perform a task that takes a minimum of 1 day to complete.

Class Features

The following are class features of this prestige class.

Spells per Day/Spells Known

At the indicated levels, a diabolist gains new spells per day as if she had also gained a level in a spellcasting class she belonged to before adding the prestige class. She does not, however, gain any other benefits a character of that class would have gained, except for additional spells per day, spells known (if she is a spontaneous spellcaster), and an increased effective level of spellcasting. If a character had more than one spellcasting class before she became a diabolist, she must decide to which class she adds each level of diabolist for the purpose of determining spells per day.

Damned (Ex)

When a diabolist is killed, her soul is instantly sent to Hell. A character attempting to resurrect her must succeed at a caster level check with a DC equal to 10 + the diabolist’s level or the spell fails. That character cannot attempt to resurrect the diabolist again until 24 hours have passed, though other characters can still attempt to do so.

Imp Familiar (Ex)

A diabolist forms a close bond with a particular imp, similar to how a wizard gains a familiar. This functions as the arcane bond wizard class feature, but as if the diabolist had selected the Improved Familiar feat. If a diabolist has class levels in another class that grants a familiar, levels in that class and her diabolist class levels stack for determining the overall abilities of her impfamiliar. The impfamiliar can communicate with its master via telepathy as long as the imp is in physical contact with her.

Infernal Charisma (Ex)

A diabolist gains a +2 bonus on Charisma checks to interact with devils. This bonus increases to +4 at 4th level and to +6 at 7th level.

Obedience (Ex)

In order to maintain her diabolist abilities (including all spellcasting abilities that have been augmented by the class), a diabolist must indulge her chosen patron with a daily obedience. This ceremony is incorporated into whatever method the diabolist uses to regain spellcasting abilities (such as meditating, praying to an archdevil, or studying a spellbook). When a character takes her first level of diabolist, she must decide whether she is an evangelist, an exalted, or a sentinel of her diabolic patron. This choice determines which category of boons she earns as she gains levels, and once made, it cannot later be changed.

Channel Hellfire (Su)

At 2nd level, a diabolist can alter spells that deal energy damage to instead deal hellfire damage. She can do this as a free action a number of times per day equal to her Charisma modifier (minimum 1). Spells altered to use hellfire gain the lawful and evil descriptors.

Infernal Bargain (Ex)

At 2nd level, a diabolist making use of planar ally (or a similar spell) can attempt an opposed Charisma check against a called (but not summoned) devil. If she succeeds, the devil reduces the price it demands to serve her by half.

Augment Summoning (Ex)

At 3rd level, a diabolist gains the Augment Summoning feat, even if she does not meet the prerequisites.

Diabolic Boon (Ex, Sp, or Su)

As a diabolist gains levels, she gains boons from her infernal patron. The nature of the boons granted varies, depending on the diabolist’s chosen patron and which category of boon she elects to embody. Each diabolic patron grants three boons, each more powerful than the last.

At 3rd level, the diabolist gains the first boon. At 6th level, she gains the second boon, and at 9th level, she gains the third and final boon. Consult the Fiendish Obedience feat on and the archdevil, infernal duke, and malebranche descriptions in Chapter 1 for details on these boons. When a diabolic boon grants a spell-like ability, the diabolist’s caster level for the spell-like ability is equal to her total character level. This ability allows a diabolist to access these boons earlier than normal; it doesn’t grant additional uses of the boons once the character reaches the necessary Hit Dice to earn the boons normally.

Heresy (Ex)

At 3rd level, a diabolist gains a +2 bonus on checks to research specific devils‘ sigils or true names. This bonus increases to +4 at 9th level.

Hellish Soul (Ex)

At 5th level, a diabolist has been deemed useful enough to the cause of Hell to be allowed a brief respite from damnation. If killed by any means outside of the will of Asmodeus, the archdevils, or another influential force in Hell, the diabolist can be resurrected as normal.

Infernal Transport (Sp)

At 6th level, a diabolist can transport herself through Hell in a burst of flames. She can use this ability twice per day as per dimension door, or she can expend both uses to travel as per teleport. She cannot use this ability to enter or leave areas warded against evil creatures.